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1 Pt. My masters, let's stand close; my lord 10 And must be made a subject to a duke? protector will come this way by and by, and then we may deliver our fupplications in the quill2.

a Pa. Marry, the Lord protect him, for he's a good man! Jesu bless him!

Enter Suffolk, and Queen.

1 Pet. Here a' comes, methinks, and the queen with him: I'll be the first, sure.

2 Pet. Come back, fool; this is the duke of

Suffolk, and not my lord protector.

I tell thee, Poole, when in the city Tours
Thou ran'st a tilt in honour of my love,
And stol'ft away the ladies' hearts of France
I thought, king Henry had resembled thee,

15 In courage, courtship, and proportion:
But all his mind is bent to holiness,
To number Ave-Maries on his beads:
His champions are the prophets, and apostles;
His weapons, holy saws of sacred writ;

Suf. How now, fellow? wouldst any thing 20 His study is his tilt-yard, and his loves
with me?

1 Pet. I pray, my lord, pardon me! I took ye

for my lord protector.

2. Mar. For my lord protector! are your fup

Are brazen images of canoniz'd saints.
I would, the college of the cardinals
Would chuse him pope, and carry him to Rome,
And fet the triple crown upon his head;

plications to his lordship? Let me see them: 25 That were a state fit for his holiness.
what is thine ?

1 Pet. Mine is, an't please your grace, againft John Goodman, my lord cardinal's man, for keeping my house, and lands, and wife and all, from

me.

Sxf. Thy wife too? that is some wrong, indeed. What's your's? what's here! [reads.] Against the duke of Suffolk for enclosing the commons of Melford.How now, fir knave ?

30

Suf. Madam, be patient: as I was caufe
Your highness came to England, so will I
In England work your grace's full content.

2. Mar. Befide the haught protector, have we
Beaufort,

The imperious churchman; Somerset, Buckingham,
And grumbling York: and not the least of these,
But can do more in England than the king.

Suf. And he of these, that can do most of all,

2 Pet. Alas, fir, I am but a poor petitioner of 35 Cannot do more in England than the Nevils: our whole township.

Peter. Against my master, Thomas Horner, for laying, That the duke of York was rightful heir to the crown.

Salisbury and Warwick are no fimple peers.
2. Mar. Not all these lords do vex me half fo
much,

As that proud dame, the lord protector's wife. 2.Mar. What fay'st thou? Did the duke of 40 She sweeps it through the court with troops of York say, he was rightful heir to the crown?

Peter. That my mistress was? No, forsooth: my master said, That he was; and that the king

was an ufurper.

ladies,

More like an empress, than duke Humphrey's wife;
Strangers in court do take her for the queen :
She bears a duke's revenues on her back,

Suf. Who is there?-Take this fellow in, and 45 And in her heart she scorns our poverty:
fend for his master with a pursuivant presently :-
we'll hear more of your matter before the king.
[Exit Peter guarded.

tected

2. Mar. And as for you, that love to be proUnder the wings of our protector's grace, Begin your suits anew, and sue to him. [Tears the petitions.

Shall I not live to be aveng'd on her?
Contemptuous base-born callat as the is,
She vaunted 'mongst her minions t'other day,
The very train of her worst wearing-gown
50 Was better worth than all my father's lands,
'Till Suffolk gave two dukedoms for his daughter,
Suf. Madam, myself have lim'd a bush for her;
And plac'd a quire of such enticing birds,

i.e. happen. 2 Mr. Steevens thinks, that the phrafe in the quill, or in quill, implies no more than our written or penn'd fupplications. Mr. Tollet supposes it may mean, with great exactness and observance of form, or with the utmost punctilio of ceremony; that it feems to be taken from part of the dress of our ancestors, whofe ruffs were quilled; and that while these were worn, it might be the vogue to say, such a thing is in the quill, i. e. in the reigning mode of tafte, as it has been fince cuftomary to use the fimilar phrase of a thing being in prim, to express the fame circumstance of exactnefs. Another critic and commentator, however, conjectures, that this may be supposed to have been a phrafe formerly in use, and the same with the French en quille, which is faid of a man when he stands upright upon his feet without ftirring from the place. The proper sense of quille in French is a ninepin, and in fome parts of England nine-pins are still called cayls. Quelle in the old British language also fignifies any piece of wood set upright.

That

That she will light to listen to their lays,
And never mount to trouble you again.
So, let her rest: And, madam, list to me;
For I am bold to counsel you in this.
Although we fancy not the cardinal,

Yet must we join with him, and with the lords,
'Till we have brought duke Humphrey in disgrace.
As for the duke of York, this late complaint *
Will make but little for his benefit:

So, one by one, we'll weed them all at last,
And you yourself shall steer the happy helm.

To them enter King Henry, Duke Humphrey, Cardinal
Beaufort, Buckingham, York, Salisbury, Warwick,
and the Dutchess of Glofter.

K. Henry. For my part, noble lords, I care
not which;

Or Somerset, or York, all's one to me.
York. If York have ill demean'd himself in France,
Then let him be deny'd the regentship.
Som. If Somerset be unworthy of the place,

Let York be regent, I will yield to him.
War. Whether your grace be worthy, yea, or no,
Dispute not that; York is the worthier.

5

Elean. Was't I? yea, I it was, proud French

woman:

her will.

Could I come near your beauty with my nails, I'd fet my ten commandments in your face. K. Henry. Sweet aunt, be quiet; 'twas against [time; Elean. Against her will!-Good king, look to't in She'll hamper thee, and dandle thee like a baby: Though in this place most master wears no breeches, 10 She shall not strike dame Eleanor unreveng'd. [Exit Eleanor.

Buck. Lord cardinal, I will follow Eleanor,
And liften after Humphrey, how he proceeds:
She's tickled now; her fume can need no spurs,
15 She'll gallop fast enough to her destruction.
[Exit Buckingham.

Re-enter Duke Humphrey.
Glo. Now, lords, my choler being over-blown
With walking once about the quadrangle,
20 I come to talk of commonwealth affairs.
As for your spightful false objections,
Prove them, and I lie open to the law :
But God in mercy deal so with my foul,
As I in duty love my king and country!

Car. Ambitious Warwick, let thy betters speak. 25 But, to the matter that we have in hand :

War. The cardinal's not my better in the field.

Buck. All in this prefence are thy betters, War-
wick.

War. Warwick may live to be the best of all.
Sal. Peace, fon;-and shew fome reason, Buck-30

ingham,

Why Somerset should be preferr'd in this.

I fay, my fovereign, York is meetest man
To be your regent in the realm of France.
Suf. Before we make election, give me leave
To thew fome reason, of no little force,
That York is most unmeet of any man.
York. I'll tell thee, Suffolk, why I am unmeet.
First, for I cannot flatter thee in pride:
Next, if I be appointed for the place,
My lord of Somerset will keep me here,

[fo. 2. Mar. Because the king, forsooth, will have it Glo. Madam, the king is old enough himself To give his cenfure 2: these are no women's 35 Without discharge, money, or furniture,

matters.

[grace 2. Mar. If he be old enough, what needs your To be protector of his excellence ?

Glo. Madam, I am protector of the realm;
And, at his pleasure, will resign my place.

Suf. Resign it then, and leave thine insolence.
Since thou wert king, (as who is king, but thou?)
The commonwealth hath daily run to wreck :
The Dauphin hath prevail'd beyond the feas;
And all the peers and nobles of the realm
Have been as bondmen to thy sovereignty.

Car. The commons haft thou rack'd; the

clergy's bags

Are lank and lean with thy extortions.

[attire,

'Till France be won into the Dauphin's hands.
Last time, I danc'd attendance on his will,
'Till Paris was befieg'd, famish'd, and loft.
War. That can I witness; and a fouler fact

40 Did never traitor in the land commit.
Suf. Peace, head-strong Warwick!
War. Image of pride, why should I hold my

45

Som. Thy sumptuous buildings, and thy wife's 50

Have cost a mass of publick treasury.

Buck. Thy cruelty in execution,

Upon offenders, hath exceeded law,

And left thee to the mercy of the law.

peace?

Enter Horner the Armourer, and bis Man Peter, guarded.

Suf. Because here is a man accus'd' of treason:
Pray God, the duke of York excuse himself!
York. Doth any one accuse York for a traitor?
K. Henry. What mean'st thou, Suffolk ? tell me :
What are these ?

Suf. Please it your majesty, this is the man
That doth accuse his master of high treason:
His words were these;-that Richard, duke of

2. Mar. Thy fale of offices, and towns in France, 55 Was rightful heir unto the English crown;

If they were known, as the suspect is great,

Would make thee quickly hop without thy head.

York,

And that your majesty was an ufurper.

[Exit Glofter. The Queen drops ber fan.

Give me my fan: What, minion! can you not?

K. Henry. Say, man, were these thy words? Arm. An't shall please your majesty, I never faid nor thought any such matter: God is my witness,

I cry you mercy, madam; Was it you?

[Gives the Dutchess a box on the ear. 60 I am falfely accus'd by the villain.

1 i. e. the complaint of Peter the armourer's man against his master, for faying that York was the rightful king. 2 i, e. judgement or opinion.

bis

Peter. By these ten bones, my lords, [bolding up bis bands] he did speak them to me in the garret one night, as we were scouring my lord of York's

armour.

York. Base dunghill villain, and mechanical,

Boling. Patience, good lady; wizards know

I'll have thy head for this thy traitor's speech:- 5 The time when scritch-owls cry, and ban-dogs 2

their times:

Deep night, dark night, the filent of the night,
The time of night when Troy was set on fire;

I do befeech your royal majesty,

howl,

Let him have all the rigour of the law.

Arm. Alas, my lord, hang me, if ever I spake

When spirits walk, and ghofts break up their graves,
That time best fits the work we have in hand.
Madam, fit you, and fear not; whom we raise,

[Here they perform the ceremonies, and make the circle; Bolingbroke, or Southwel reads, Conjuro te, &c.

the words. My accufer is my prentice; and when

I did correct him for his fault the other day, he did 10 We will make fast within a hallow'd verge.

vow upon his knees he would be even with me:

I have good witness of this; therefore, I beseech

your majesty, do not caft away an honest man for
a villain's accufation.

K. Henry. Uncle, what shall we fay to this in law? 15
Glo. This doom, my lord, if I may judge.

Let Somerset be regent o'er the French,
Because in York this breeds suspicion :
And let these have a day appointed them
For fingle combat, in convenient place;
For he hath witness of his servant's malice:

It thunders and lightens terribly; then the Spirit rifeth.

Spirit. Adfum.

M. Jourd. Afmath,

By the eternal God, whose name and power
Thou trembleft at, answer that I shall afk;

20 For, 'till thou speak, thou shalt not pass from hence.
Spirit. Afk what thou wilt: -That I had faid

25

This is the law, and this duke Humphrey's doom.
K. Henry. Then be it so. My lord of Somerset,
We make your grace lord regent o'er the French.
Som. I humbly thank your royal majefty.
Arm. And I accept the combat willingly.
Patr. Alas, my lord, I cannot fight; for God's
lake, pity my cafe! the spight of a man prevaileth
againft me. O, Lord have mercy upon me! 1
shall never be able to fight a blow: O Lord, my 30

heart!

Glo. Sirrah, or you must fight, or else be hang'd.
K. Henry. Away with them to prifon: and

the day

and done!

Boling. First, of the king. What shall of bim be-
come?
[Reading out of a paper.
Spirit. The duke yet lives, that Henry shall
depose;

But him out-live, and die a violent death.

[As the Spirit (peaks, they write the answer.
Boling. What fates await the duke of Suff ik &
Spirit. By water shall he die, and take his end.
Boling. What shall befall the duke of Somerset ?
Spirit. Let him shun castles;

Safer shall he be upon the fandy plains,
Than where castles mounted stand.

Of combat shall be the last of the next month.- 35 Have done, for more I hardly can endure. [lake: Come, Somerset, we'll fee thee fent away.

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Are deep indebted for this piece of pains;
My lord protector will, I doubt it not,
See you well guerdon'd 3 for these good deferts.

Boling. I have heard her reported to be a wo-
man of an invincible spirit: But it shall be con-50
venient, mafter Hume, that you be by her aloft,
while we be busy below; and so, I pray you, go
in God's name, and leave us [Exit Hume.] Mother
Jourdain, be you proftrate, and grovel on the
earth-John Southwel, read you; and let us to 55 And kept afunder :-You, madam, shall with

Elean. Not half so bad as thine to England's
king,

Injurious duke; that threat'ft where is no cause.
Buck. True, madam, none at all. What call you
this?
[Sberving ber the papers.

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Silent for filence. 2 Mr. Steevens says, that the etymology of the word ban-digs is unfettled. They feem, however, to have been designed by poets to fignity some terrific beings whose office it was to make night bidecus. 3 i. e. rewarded.

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York. Lord Buckingham, methinks, you watch'd her well:

A pretty plot, well chose to build upon!
Now, pray, my lord, let's see the devil's writ.
What have we here?

The duke yet lives, that Henry shall depose;

But him out-live, and die a violent death.

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Come, come, my lords:
These oracles are hardily attain'd,
And hardly understood.

The king is now in progress towards Saint Albans;
[Reads. 5 With him the husband of this lovely lady: [them;
Thither go these news, as fast as horfe can carry
A forry breakfast for my lord protector. [York,
Buck. Your grace shall give me leave, my lord of
To be the post, in hope of his reward.
York. At your pleasure, my good lord.
Who's within there, ho!

Why, this is just, Aio te, Eacida, Romanos vincere
Well, to the rest:

Tell me what fate awaits the duke of Suffolk ?
By water shall be die, and take bis end.
What shall betide the duke of Somerset ?
Let him shun caftles;

Safer shall be be on the fandy plains,
Than where castles mounted stand.

10

15

Enter a Serving-man.

Invite my lords of Salisbury, and Warwick, To fup with me to-morrow night.-Away!

[Exeunt.

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Enter King Henry, Queen, Glofter, Cardinal, and
Suffolk, with Falconers ballooing.

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I faw not better sport these seven years' day :
Yet, by your leave, the wind was very high;
And, ten to one, old Joan had not gone out 2.
K. Henry. But what a point, my lord, your falcon
made,

And what a pitch the flew above the rest!-
To fee how God in all his creatures works!
Yea, man and birds are fain 3 of climbing high.

Suf. No marvel, an it like your majesty, My lord protector's hawks do tower so well; They know, their master loves to be aloft, And bears his thoughts above his falcon's pitch. Glo. My lord, 'tis but a base ignoble mind That mounts no higher than a bird can foar.

25

Suf. No malice, fir; no more than well becomes

So good a quarrel, and fo bad a peer.

Glo. As who, my lord?

[lence.

Suf. Why, as yourself, my lord;
An't like your lordly lord-protectorship.
Glo. Why, Suffolk, England knows thine info-

2. Mar. And thy ambition, Glofter.
30 K. Henry. I pr'ythee, peace, good queen;
And whet not on these too too furious peers,
For blessed are the peace-makers on earth.

Car. Let me be blessed for the peace I make, Against this proud protector, with my sword!

35 Glo. Faith, holy uncle, 'would 'twere
come to that!

Car. Marry, when thou dar'st.
Glo. Make up no factious numbers for

the matter,

40 In thine own person answer thy abuse. Car. Ay, where thou dar'st not peep:

Car. I thought as much; he'd be above the
[that? 45

clouds.

Glo. Ay, my lord cardinal; How think you by Were it not good, your grace could fiy to heaven? K. Henry. The treasury of everlafting joy!

Car. Thy heaven is on earth; thine eyes and thoughts

Beat 4 on a crown, the treasure of thy heart; Pernicious protector, dangerous peer,

That smooth'st it so with king and common-weal! Glo. What, cardinal, is your priesthood grown fo

an if thou dar'st,

This evening, on the east fide of the grove.
K. Henry. How now, my lords?
Car. Believe me, coufin Glofter,

Afide.

Had not your man put up the fowl so fuddenly, We'd had more sport. - Come with thy two-hand [Afide to Glofter.

fword.

Glo. True, uncle.

[Afide.

5o Are you advis'd ?-the east side of the grove?
Cardinal, I am with you.
K. Henry. Why, how now, uncle Glofter?
Glo. Talking of hawking; nothing elfe, my

lord.

[for this,

[peremptory? 55 Now, by God's mother, priest, I'll have your crown

Tantæne animis cæleftibus iræ?

Churchmen so hot? good uncle, hide fuch malice; With fuch holiness can you do it?

Or all my fences shall fail.

Car. [afide] Medice, teipfum;

[Afide.

* This is the falconer's term for hawking at water-fowl. 2 The meaning, according to Dr. Johnfon, is, that the wind being high, it was ten to one that the old hawk had flown quite away; a trick which hawks often play their masters in windy weather; while Dr. Percy fays, that the paffage Signifies, that the wind was so high, it was ten to one that old Joan would not have taken her flight at the game. Utrum borum mavis accipe. 3 i. c. glad. + To bait or beat (batbe) is a term in falconry.

5 Fence is the art of defence.

Protector,

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Protector, see to't well, protect yourself.

Simp. Yes, master, clear as day; I thank God,

K. Henry. The winds grow high; so do your stomachs, lords.

How irksome is this mufic to my heart!

When fuch strings jar, what hopes of harmony? 5
I pray, my lords, let me compound this strife.
Enter one, crying, A miracle!

Glo. What means this noise ?

Fellow, what miracle dost thou proclaim?
One. A miracle! a miracle!

Suf. Come to the king, and tell him what miracle.
One. Forfooth, a blind man at saint Alban's shrine,
Within this half-hour, hath receiv'd his fight;
A man, that ne'er saw in his life before.

[fouls

and faint Alban.

[cloak of?

Glo. Say'st thou me so? What colour is this
Simp. Red, master; red as blood. [gown of?
Glo. Why, that's well faid: what colour is my
Simp. Black, forsooth; coal-black, as jet.

K. Hemy. Why then, thou know'st what co

lour jet is of?

Suf. And yet, I think, jet did he never fee.

10

Gh. But cloaks, and gowns, before this day, a many.

Wife. Never, before this day, in all his life.
Glo. Tell me, firrah, what's my name?
Simp. Alas, master, I know not.
Glo. What's his name?

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K. Henry. Now, God be prais'd! that to believing 15 Gives light in darkness, comfort in despair! Enter the Mayor of Saint Albans, and bis brethren, bearing Simpcox between two in a chair, Simpcox's wife following.

Car. Here come the townsmen on procession, 20 To present your highness with the man.

K. Henry. Great is his comfort in this earthly vale, Though by his fight his fin be multiply'd.

[king,

Glo. Stand by, my masters, bring him near the
His highness' pleasure is to talk with him. [stance, 25
K. Henry. Good fellow, tell us here the circum-

That we for thee may glorify the Lord.

What, haft thou been long blind, and now restor'd?

Simp. Born blind, an't please your grace.

Wife. Ay, indeed was he.

Suf. What woman is this?

Wife. His wife, an't like your worship.

Gle. Had'st thou been his mother, thou could'st

have better told.

Glo. Nor his ?

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To name the several colours we do wear.

Sight may diftinguish colours; but suddenly
To nominate them all, it is impoffible.
My lords, faint Alban here hath done a miracle;

30 Would ye not think that cunning to be great,

That could restore this cripple to his legs again ?
Simp. O, master, that you could!
Glo. My masters of faint Alban's,

Have you not beadles in your town, and things

K. Henry. Where wert thou born? [grace. 35 Call'd whips ?

Simp. At Berwick in the north, an't like your

K. Henry. Poor foul! God's goodness hath been

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Car. What, art thou lame?

Simp. Ay, God Almighty help me!

Suf. How cam'st thou fo?

Simp. A fall off of a tree.

Wift. A plum-tree, master.

Glo. How long haft thou been blind?

Simp. O, born so, master.

Glo. What, and would'st climb a tree ?

Simp. But that in all my life, when I was a youth.
Wife. Too true; and bought his climbing very dear.
Glo. Mass, thou lov'dít plums well, that would it

venture so.

Mayor. Yes, my lord, if it please your grace.
Glo. Then send for one presently.
Mayor. Sirrah, go fetch the beadle hither straight.
[Exit Messenger.
Glo. Now fetch me a stool hither by and by.
Now, firrah, if you mean to save yourself from
whipping, leap me over this stool, and run away.
Simp. Alas, master, I am not able to stand alone:
You go about to torture me in vain.

Enter a Beadle, with whips.

Glo. Well, fir, we must have you find your legs. Sirrah beadle, whip him 'till he leap over that fame stool.

Bead. I will, my lord. Come on, sirrah; off So with your doublet quickly.

55

Simp. Alas, mafter, what shall I do? I am not able to stand.

[After the Beadle bath bit bim once, be leaps over the ftool, and runs arvay; and the people follow and cry, A Miracle!

K. Henry. O God, seest thou this, and bear'st so long? Qucen. It made me laugh, to see the villain run. Glo. Follow the knave; and take this drab away. [damfons, 60 Wife. Alas, fir, we did it for pure need. [town Glo. Let them be whipt through every market Until they come to Berwick, whence they came. [Exit Beadle, with the woman, &c.

Simp. Alas, good master, my wife desir'd fome
And made me climb, with danger of my life.
Glb. A fubtle knave! but yet it shall not ferve.-
Let me fee thine eyes:-wink now;-now open
la my opinion, yet thou see it not well. [them:-65

Car. Duke Humphrey has done a miracle to-day.
Suf. True; made the lame to leap, and fly away.

Ppa

Gia.

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